Noriega calls Cornyn a hypocrite on border fence vote
By ELIZABETH WHITE Associated Press Writer
Article Launched: 06/18/2008 03:42:19 PM MDT
SAN ANTONIO—Democratic Senate candidate Rick Noriega said Wednesday that Republican Sen. John Cornyn is a "hypocrite" who should not expect South Texans to vote for him after he "spit in their face" by voting for the border fence.
Noriega, a state representative from Houston, predicted he would prevail in the Rio Grande Valley, where Cornyn has been working with landowners in the path of the U.S.-Mexico border fence, earning himself several local endorsements.
"You don't go down to South Texas and spit in their face, which he has done, on children's issues, on veterans issues and on the (border) wall and on private property issues, and then expect the people to vote for you," Noriega told a news conference where he was endorsed by more than a dozen San Antonio-area officials.
Cornyn voted in favor of the law requiring a border fence, which has strong opposition in the Valley.
The heavily Hispanic Rio Grande Valley is a key constituency in Noriega's effort to beat the better-funded Cornyn, who is seeking a second six-year term in the U.S. Senate. For Cornyn, the endorsements are a big plus in a year when Republicans have lost some gains with Hispanic voters.
"I understand Rick Noriega is angry and embarrassed that nearly two dozen prominent Valley Democrats endorsed Senator Cornyn but having a difference of opinion is no reason to insult their intelligence," Cornyn campaign spokesman Kevin McLaughlin said in a statement.
Among those who support Cornyn in the Valley but have opposed a fence are McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez, Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos and Steve Ahlenius, McAllen Chamber of Commerce president and CEO.
"Let me just tell you this right now, we're going to beat John Cornyn down in the Valley," Noriega said. "He is not going to continue to be a hypocrite ... and then coming back here and pretending as though he represents Texas families."
Noriega, who called a news conference to highlight the endorsements, said Cornyn will have to do more "to win this race than throw out a few names."
Among those appearing with Noriega on Wednesday to endorse him were Democratic state Reps. Ruth Jones McClendon and Joaquin Castro and Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson.
———
On the Net:
John Cornyn campaign: http://www.johncornyn.com
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_9625655
Showing posts with label Bexar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bexar. Show all posts
June 13, 2008
Texas Civil Rights Project merits accolades in seeking justice
Texas Civil Rights Project merits accolades in seeking justice
Ouisa D. Davis / Guest columnist
Article Launched: 06/13/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT
If you ever meet George McAlmon or Jim Harrington, you'll be drawn to their gentle spirits, peace-filled gaze and softness of speech. But they are formidable men, valiant and unwavering in their pursuit of justice for those excluded from the justice system.
McAlmon has done so as a private attorney since 1950, well known for his advocacy and efforts to provide access to legal services and protection of civil rights in our border community.
Harrington is executive director and founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, a legal aid clinic promoting racial, social, and economic justice and protecting civil rights provided under the U.S. Constitution, state and federal law.
Striving to foster equality, secure justice, ensure diversity and strengthen communities, TCRP was founded in 1990 and now has an established presence in South Texas, Austin, El Paso and Midland/Odessa.
For over 18 years TCRP has tirelessly advocated for racial, social and economic equality in Texas through education and litigation. The Project has worked steadfastly to extend rights to farmworkers and residents of the Rio Grande Valley to improve their living and working conditions.
No area of civil rights is invisible to TCRP's vigilant gaze.
Achieving substantial gains in ensuring justice, TCRP uses education and litigation to create structural change in areas such as voting rights, police and Border Patrol misconduct, sex discrimination, employment bias, privacy, disability rights, grand
jury discrimination, traditional civil liberties, protections under immigration and education law.
Because of TCRP, jails in Hidalgo, El Paso, Henderson, Tom Green, Williamson, Travis, Bexar, Dallas, and Brown Counties do more to prevent inmate suicide, provide interpreters for deaf prisoners, protect vulnerable inmates from sexual assault, administer HIV medications, and make jails accessible for inmates with disabilities.
TCRP now has an El Paso office, the Paso del Norte Civil Rights Project, which, over the past two years, has taken on the task of education and reform, improving access to public and private facilities and programs for the disabled and raising consciousness regarding compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Developing a bilingual consumer rights curriculum targeted at colonia residents, the agency provides education in homeowner rights and responsibilities and protections.
PDNCRP delivers legal services to 17 underserved counties for undocumented domestic violence victims, leadership training and community education in immigration rights and protections under state and federal law.
Addressing police misconduct throughout West Texas and Southern New Mexico, PDNCRP resolved cases of excessive force by law enforcement officers, false arrest, racial profiling and warrantless searches of homes, including negotiating a Taser policy with Odessa police to prevent the use of this weapon against the elderly, children and pregnant women.
PDNCRP vigorously protects First Amendment guarantees of free speech and peaceful assembly, defending a San Elizario storeowner against false charges when El Paso sheriff's deputies retaliated against him for protesting immigration roadblocks and mediating a training program for El Paso Police Department officers after allegations of police assault during a peaceful rally at Montwood High.
Café Mayapan, 2000 Texas Street, will reverberate with the celebration of the Paso del Norte Civil Rights Project Fiesta Fronteriza on June 20 when McAlmon will be honored for his dedication.
Tickets are available online at texascivilrightsproject.org or by calling 532-2799.
Ouisa D. Davis is an attorney at law in El Paso. E-mail: Ouisadavis@yahoo.com
http://www.elpasotimes.com/opinion/ci_9567753
Ouisa D. Davis / Guest columnist
Article Launched: 06/13/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT
If you ever meet George McAlmon or Jim Harrington, you'll be drawn to their gentle spirits, peace-filled gaze and softness of speech. But they are formidable men, valiant and unwavering in their pursuit of justice for those excluded from the justice system.
McAlmon has done so as a private attorney since 1950, well known for his advocacy and efforts to provide access to legal services and protection of civil rights in our border community.
Harrington is executive director and founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, a legal aid clinic promoting racial, social, and economic justice and protecting civil rights provided under the U.S. Constitution, state and federal law.
Striving to foster equality, secure justice, ensure diversity and strengthen communities, TCRP was founded in 1990 and now has an established presence in South Texas, Austin, El Paso and Midland/Odessa.
For over 18 years TCRP has tirelessly advocated for racial, social and economic equality in Texas through education and litigation. The Project has worked steadfastly to extend rights to farmworkers and residents of the Rio Grande Valley to improve their living and working conditions.
No area of civil rights is invisible to TCRP's vigilant gaze.
Achieving substantial gains in ensuring justice, TCRP uses education and litigation to create structural change in areas such as voting rights, police and Border Patrol misconduct, sex discrimination, employment bias, privacy, disability rights, grand
jury discrimination, traditional civil liberties, protections under immigration and education law.
Because of TCRP, jails in Hidalgo, El Paso, Henderson, Tom Green, Williamson, Travis, Bexar, Dallas, and Brown Counties do more to prevent inmate suicide, provide interpreters for deaf prisoners, protect vulnerable inmates from sexual assault, administer HIV medications, and make jails accessible for inmates with disabilities.
TCRP now has an El Paso office, the Paso del Norte Civil Rights Project, which, over the past two years, has taken on the task of education and reform, improving access to public and private facilities and programs for the disabled and raising consciousness regarding compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Developing a bilingual consumer rights curriculum targeted at colonia residents, the agency provides education in homeowner rights and responsibilities and protections.
PDNCRP delivers legal services to 17 underserved counties for undocumented domestic violence victims, leadership training and community education in immigration rights and protections under state and federal law.
Addressing police misconduct throughout West Texas and Southern New Mexico, PDNCRP resolved cases of excessive force by law enforcement officers, false arrest, racial profiling and warrantless searches of homes, including negotiating a Taser policy with Odessa police to prevent the use of this weapon against the elderly, children and pregnant women.
PDNCRP vigorously protects First Amendment guarantees of free speech and peaceful assembly, defending a San Elizario storeowner against false charges when El Paso sheriff's deputies retaliated against him for protesting immigration roadblocks and mediating a training program for El Paso Police Department officers after allegations of police assault during a peaceful rally at Montwood High.
Café Mayapan, 2000 Texas Street, will reverberate with the celebration of the Paso del Norte Civil Rights Project Fiesta Fronteriza on June 20 when McAlmon will be honored for his dedication.
Tickets are available online at texascivilrightsproject.org or by calling 532-2799.
Ouisa D. Davis is an attorney at law in El Paso. E-mail: Ouisadavis@yahoo.com
http://www.elpasotimes.com/opinion/ci_9567753
January 26, 2008
Sheriff to let federal immigration agents set up office in jail
Sheriff to let federal immigration agents set up office in jail
Agents will look for undocumented immigrants
By Tony Plohetski
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton has agreed to let federal immigration agents set up an office in the county jail to more often monitor whether inmates booked into the downtown facility are legally in the United States.
Hamilton said this week that agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency will likely be stationed in the jail 24 hours a day, seven days a week in coming months. They began increasing their presence in the facility late last year.
Until recently, federal officials said agents only occasionally visited the jail to check the immigration status among inmates but sought more access from Hamilton.
The increased presence has led agents to double — if not triple — the number of "immigration holds" it has traditionally placed on Travis County inmates for possible deportation, said Adrian Ramirez, assistant field office director for the San Antonio office of the federal immigration agency, whose region includes Austin. Specific numbers were not available Friday. The inmates include anyone from undocumented immigrants accused of felony crimes to others who were arrested for Class C misdemeanor traffic violations, such as running a red light or not having a driver's licenses, officials said.
"I'm really shocked that Travis County is working with the immigration officials to help carry out immigration policies that need to be revised," said Rita Gonzales-Garza, a co-district director of the local chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens. "I would expect that of other counties, but it is unfortunate that it is occurring here."
Critics say that the increased enforcement could divide families in instances where a parent has U.S.-born children and affect the willingness of undocumented immigrants to work with local law enforcement officials to report and help solve crimes.
Hamilton, who met Thursday with concerned community groups, said he is only increasing the efficiency of federal immigration agents who have visited the jail looking for undocumented immigrants for at least two decades. He said his decision also is based on a belief that joint efforts between local and federal law enforcement agencies increase public safety.
"My contention is that the best way for (undocumented immigrants) to not come under scrutiny is to not commit crimes," Hamilton said.
Ramirez said agents since the 1980s have visited county jails across the nation to review forms that inmates fill out when they are booked into jail that ask their place of birth. They may request an interview with the inmates to determine whether they are legally in the United States.
Agents may place an immigration detainer on the inmates if they suspect they are undocumented immigrants.
Officials said such inmates generally remain in local jails until charges against them are resolved. From there they are moved to federal detention facilities, where their immigration cases are heard before a judge, who can order them to be deported. Ramirez said his region received federal money for more agents last June and that officials decided in October to focus their efforts in jails in Travis and Bexar counties, where they thought the number of undocumented immigrants was higher.
Ramirez said agents also are more frequently visiting jails throughout his 20-county region.
In Travis County, Ramirez said agents are trying to determine the immigration status of the 2,432 people already in jail. He said they plan to check the immigration status of new inmates when they are booked into jail.
Having an office in the Travis County Jail "is very important," he said. "In order for an officer to file a detainer, they have to interview that person. If we are there 24 hours a day, we can determine if the subject is removable. It is a lot easier."
In a four-page letter to Hamilton, attorney David Peek, whose clients include immigrants, said he is concerned about the number of inmates who will be forced to remain in jail and the cost to the county.
He said he also is worried that members of Austin's immigrant community will be afraid that interacting with local law enforcement officers could result in possible deportation.
Austin police have had a years-long practice of not questioning suspects or victims about their immigration status.
"This will have a wide-sweeping affect on the local economy, the community, untold businesses and the reputation which makes Austin great," the letter said.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/01/26/0126ice.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52
Agents will look for undocumented immigrants
By Tony Plohetski
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton has agreed to let federal immigration agents set up an office in the county jail to more often monitor whether inmates booked into the downtown facility are legally in the United States.
Hamilton said this week that agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency will likely be stationed in the jail 24 hours a day, seven days a week in coming months. They began increasing their presence in the facility late last year.
Until recently, federal officials said agents only occasionally visited the jail to check the immigration status among inmates but sought more access from Hamilton.
The increased presence has led agents to double — if not triple — the number of "immigration holds" it has traditionally placed on Travis County inmates for possible deportation, said Adrian Ramirez, assistant field office director for the San Antonio office of the federal immigration agency, whose region includes Austin. Specific numbers were not available Friday. The inmates include anyone from undocumented immigrants accused of felony crimes to others who were arrested for Class C misdemeanor traffic violations, such as running a red light or not having a driver's licenses, officials said.
"I'm really shocked that Travis County is working with the immigration officials to help carry out immigration policies that need to be revised," said Rita Gonzales-Garza, a co-district director of the local chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens. "I would expect that of other counties, but it is unfortunate that it is occurring here."
Critics say that the increased enforcement could divide families in instances where a parent has U.S.-born children and affect the willingness of undocumented immigrants to work with local law enforcement officials to report and help solve crimes.
Hamilton, who met Thursday with concerned community groups, said he is only increasing the efficiency of federal immigration agents who have visited the jail looking for undocumented immigrants for at least two decades. He said his decision also is based on a belief that joint efforts between local and federal law enforcement agencies increase public safety.
"My contention is that the best way for (undocumented immigrants) to not come under scrutiny is to not commit crimes," Hamilton said.
Ramirez said agents since the 1980s have visited county jails across the nation to review forms that inmates fill out when they are booked into jail that ask their place of birth. They may request an interview with the inmates to determine whether they are legally in the United States.
Agents may place an immigration detainer on the inmates if they suspect they are undocumented immigrants.
Officials said such inmates generally remain in local jails until charges against them are resolved. From there they are moved to federal detention facilities, where their immigration cases are heard before a judge, who can order them to be deported. Ramirez said his region received federal money for more agents last June and that officials decided in October to focus their efforts in jails in Travis and Bexar counties, where they thought the number of undocumented immigrants was higher.
Ramirez said agents also are more frequently visiting jails throughout his 20-county region.
In Travis County, Ramirez said agents are trying to determine the immigration status of the 2,432 people already in jail. He said they plan to check the immigration status of new inmates when they are booked into jail.
Having an office in the Travis County Jail "is very important," he said. "In order for an officer to file a detainer, they have to interview that person. If we are there 24 hours a day, we can determine if the subject is removable. It is a lot easier."
In a four-page letter to Hamilton, attorney David Peek, whose clients include immigrants, said he is concerned about the number of inmates who will be forced to remain in jail and the cost to the county.
He said he also is worried that members of Austin's immigrant community will be afraid that interacting with local law enforcement officers could result in possible deportation.
Austin police have had a years-long practice of not questioning suspects or victims about their immigration status.
"This will have a wide-sweeping affect on the local economy, the community, untold businesses and the reputation which makes Austin great," the letter said.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/01/26/0126ice.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
